TongTong
Sign in

动用 (dòng yòng) — to use (resources, funds, personnel, etc.)

Definition

动用 focuses on drawing on and spending a reserve or resource (funds, troops, connections, etc.). Compared with 运用 (applying a method/skill) and 部署 (arranging/deploying), it implies actual consumption rather than setup or technique.

verb
to use (resources, funds, personnel, etc.)

Examples

  • 动用。
    Gōng sī dòng yòng le dà liàng zī jīn lái kāi fā xīn chǎn pǐn.
    The company used a large amount of funds to develop new products.
  • 动用。
    Zhèng fǔ jué dìng dòng yòng jūn duì lái wéi chí zhì xù.
    The government decided to use the army to maintain order.
  • 动用。
    Tā dòng yòng le suǒ yǒu guān xì cái zhǎo dào zhè fèn gōng zuò.
    He used all his connections to find this job.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

动dòngbring into action
用yònguse

动 (bring into action) and 用 (use) together mean to put something to use.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 動; 动 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
力力lìstrength
Sound part声符shēngfú
重
重zhòng動dòng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 動 uses 力 (strength) and 重 as a sound part; 重 refers to a heavy bag ready to be moved by a human. This note is about 動, not 动.

Open 动 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

用 was formed by adding a handle to an earlier form.

Open 用 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Abstract Concepts

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.